Using APIs in social scientific analysis of Big Data: methodological and ethical challenges

Abstract

This paper elaborates on the analysis of Big Data, harvested via social media Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), in social science disciplines in general and in communication sciences in specific. The paper starts with a brief description of API-harvested Big Data. Next, three issues related to the use of APIs and Big Data in social sciences, are identified and addressed. More concrete, the paper discusses the ethical, practical-methodological challenges related to the use of APIs and Big Data in social sciences, as well as the programming- and computer skills needed to understand the Big data ecosystem in all its complexity, from technical and practical issues to its political aspects. In this way, the paper contributes to the development of a more comprehensive and reliable foundation for the use of Big Data or API-harvested data in social sciences and communication sciences.

This paper elaborates on the analysis of Big Data, harvested via social media Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), in social science disciplines in general and in communication sciences in specific. The paper starts with a brief description of API-harvested Big Data. Next, three issues related to the use of APIs and Big Data in social sciences, are identified and addressed. More concrete, the paper discusses the ethical, practical-methodological challenges related to the use of APIs and Big Data in social sciences, as well as the programming- and computer skills needed to understand the Big data ecosystem in all its complexity, from technical and practical issues to its political aspects. In this way, the paper contributes to the development of a more comprehensive and reliable foundation for the use of Big Data or API-harvested data in social sciences and communication sciences.

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